The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-05-19
The Thirty-SiXth at Chickamauga!
BY JOHN T. BOOTH, NJ. D., REGIMENTAL
HISTORIAN.
IFrom the Marietta Register. ]

to the battle of Chfckamauga, wherein our comrades
were the actors in propria persona. feel assured
there are many, many instances locked away in the
chambers of memory of comrades, that have never
been committed to paper, perhaps seldom or never
related by their possessors since their occurrence
either through modesty the part of the heroes OF
the incident fear, that if told their veracity
would be brought under question, not few of which
would fully as interesting and instructive as
any that have ever found place in print. If may
be able call them out for record in the forthcoming
history of the regiment those to whom they are
known shall have passed beyond the confines of time.
1 shall have succeeded to a consummation most de-
voutly wished.
Comrades, as time rolls, and look back those
times that tried mems SOULS is it any wonder, as
through kale eidoscopic mind, we view in panorama
times, with their vicisstudes of camp
and march, of bivouac and battle and prison hells,
from 1861 1861 that ask ourselves these things
have actually occurred and doubt senses in the
answer? This, however, is not strange its SEEM
Ing when recall to mind that minds and lives
have in entirely different channels for the last
more of years. With its mutations the hand
of time has come to some of us ladened with lifes
choicest, richest blessings to others, Christening
rod; some again have profted the world that they
lived others, perhaps, have sought their profit
in selfish gain not few have attained to fame while
yet others of our comrades whom we in those hours
of trials and moments of peril learned to love and
trust hath done that which their hearts promptngs
gave their hands to do, done it quietly, well as
to live almost unknown 10 earthly fame but whom
angelic peans will herald entrance into Camp Tri-
Mmphant ~
1t is my purpose in this article to confine myself
to incidents as occurrent that deadly grapple of
Titanic hosts the vale OF Chickamauga, our ap-
proach to which finds fitting prelude in the mem
orable night march from Pond to Crawish Springs.
doubt not, every comrade will remember that, upon
withdrawing from the vicinity of Pond Spring late in
the afternoon evening of Friday, the 18th day of
September, 1868, the 36h Ohio, in conjunction with
the 18th army corps, took up its line of march toward
Rossville Gap. The regiment marched rapidly by a
road along the eastern slope of Mission Ridge,
immediate objective the junction of roads in the
Chickamauga valley leading into Chattanooga, toward
which General Bragg driving his forces in
deavor to penetrate lines, crush Crittenden's
command-2lst corps-thus turning the Federal left
getting not only between Chattanooga, but the Ten
nessee river also. and the Union Army. The twelve
fifteen miles marched that night most weari-
some ones; the almost entire line of march, where
passing through lanes, both sides, Illuminated by
burning fences while in the forest the fire
the leaves twisting and turning wended its
pentine way along where there little which to
feed, then heetly sweeping and surging on in crack
ling flame more abundant material reached; !;
now splitting and Kissing within its capacious
were embraced the thicker underground and fallen
timber, then dallying at the foot, then climbing in
whole embrace darting in fiery jets, creeping,
ra'ng, from root to topmost branch, fed by the
dry, tinderlke bark of the dead and staddng TIMBER
yonder tongues of flame could be seen leaping from
bough to bough, from tree to tree. gyrating among
and licking with flaming tongue from within to top
most tip the branches of many of the hoary monarchs
of that forest. Utterly beyond the power of human
contToI that fiery holocaust of fences and Forest
not single fence believe, along the entire line of
march escaping; destruction seemed rife every
side. 1t was only now and again the cold eddying
wind of that sharp, frosty September night lifted the
heavy, dark pail of smoke that enveloped that
could get glimpse of the stars they twinkled dim
ly, with pale and ghasty hue from out reddish sky,
Illuminated with the lurid glare from below. There
was present, evidence unmistakabe of stern, grim
visaged war on every hand; columns of smoke and
pillars of fire all around and about u.s. AS trudged
along through sitting smoke, now and anon through
scor"hng heats from the road, which we tramped
and over which trains passing covered with
pulverZed earth shoe top deep, there cloud
dust that enveloped completely, its finer particles
per;neating clothing penetrating the eyes,
nostrils and mouths of the moving troops, causing
exquisite suffering among men and animals. This
toilsome march continued during the entire night,
fnterspersed with an occasional short halt of which
for availed myselfto obtain upon each occasion,
despite the bleak night winds, few moments much
needed rest and sleep.
On the morning of Saturday, September 10th, after
leaving the road by file right, moved the front
through some fields where, during brief halt there
transpired of the most sublime and impressive
scenes that possibly ever occurred in any upon
battle field There Rev. w. W. Lyle, Chaplain of the
1lth Ohio, of Turchin's brigade, conducted for few
w
and bowed there stood the veterans of the 1lth the
seth Ohio, and perhaps other regiments, amidst the
crashing sounds of bursting shells, the of TIL
lery, and the staccatc rattle of musketry, devouty
participating in the devotion-many poor fellow for
the last time earth-after which we moved on to
the woods, where was TO be fought on that and the
succeeding day, certainly, of the most stubborny
contested sanguinary and in some respects, remark
able battles in the annals of history.
There seems deep and poetic significance in the
name of the stream along whose banks fought this
great BATTLE and from which it took its CHICK
AMAUGA, which in the Indian tongue, from whence
its name, means 'RiUer of Death,'' making its
literally appropriate in its extraordinary baptism in
the ife blood of scores of thousands of brave and
noble men, full century after receiving its
name from the Cherokee nation who then dwet along
its borders.
The battle had already begun and progressing
vigorously parts of the field prior to the ar
rival of division. The seth held a reserve
to the brigade changing position at times in order to
be on hand to support compatriots at the 'front.'
which we were called to do near mid afternoon. By
this time, however, the battle raging fearfully
the indescribabe noise of the contending hosts as
they to and fro like the surgng blows of old
ocean, the continuous sharp roll and rattle of the
musketry; the deep, bass, deafening boom of the
tiery; the whirrng, shrieking, bursting SHE'LL the
short, shri piercing hiss of shrapne grape and
lister, together with the torn, manged and bleeding
wounded, that were borne painfully dragging
themselves to the in continuous streams told a
fearful and bloody tale of the horrors that being
enacted on front.
Notwiths landing the 36th had kept pretty well
closed its brigade, in front, the field of Wis
ion of comrades action in our advance very linn
tied, owing to the growth of pines, oaks and under
growth that covered the field. The frequent angry
whing-gg-z-i-p, or z-z-z-t gave unmistakable evil
dence of the nearness of the enemy the rifle balls
from their front reach About and among us they
feX. quickening our hearts pulsations while many
M6yer was murmured not few accompanied by
the benediction, God be oith you, children and oe
that was waited by white winged spirits away of
that din of battle where tumuluous clang
fill the air; away from where Clouds sulphur ladened
rise on clouds, dark DER the field" ascending shade
the sun and hide the golden skies; away from these
where footsteps careless might splashing down in
blood"; away over mountain and river and valley
over hill and dale brooklet and meadow to the
homes and the dear loved ones, with whom, at that
instant their thoughts and their hearts were but
with whom they, in the flesh, meier should be again
thus prayed they and engaged their thoughts
they listened intently listened to the rafting
wild grim dice of the iron game.'
1t was along in the afternoon something after two
O'Clock Or perhaps, p. NJ, while the battle rag
ing with sublime fury the line to the front and
right OF us was being pushed back by the rebel hosts
and with great liability disfntegration. The 36th
Ohio with its brigade moved rapidly by the right
flank through the timber, to relieve the line or fill
the gaps and confront the enemy. The seth had
double-quicked but short distance when it
down. In coming into line, and forming our position
was across dry water course and at acute angle
with it. The banks OF this dry rivulet descended
gently from both sides being highest its west side
its course by the right obque into the enemys lines
the descent in front ofus forming small semi cleared
that could be swept by the 2st Indiana Battery
(our brigade Battery) that posted little ele
walton, that little west by south of the descent
front, and slightly to the and south our
immediate right. Along the line of the regiment as
it lay there in the timber the underground was less
dense, yet sufficiently to partially line
Company Co. of which was a member formed the
extreme left of the regiment. We had lain in this
position but brief time until the bullets began their
z-z-z-t, as they dropped among from the unseen
but advancing lines of the enemy. l have always
thought the regiment relieved was the 9th Ohio.
1t is but impression for never knew certainty.
Presently could hear the officers of the Federal
line they continued to fall back upon us calling
upon their men to keep steady and preserve their
alignment. ''Steady men, STEADY men, was the
oft repeated admonition, but they burst from